ryan crocker one of our very best who would be very difficult to say you can't do this even though you've decide you should do it. but what we're trying to do is to create a more ongoing discussion between our ambassadors who are our regional experts and our security people. so that at the very least, no ambassador is taking an unnecessary risk. however that is defined. >> with regard to ambassador stevens, certainly it was brave of him to go to benghazi on the days he did. i have to ask you honestly, though, was there anything in his itinerary on the 10th or 11th that actually specifically required his personal presence? >> well, he certainly thought so, congressman. and he did of course discuss this with his own security people. remember, we do have regional security officers in these posts. they are the ones that an ambassador will turn to. he believed that it was important for him to go to benghazi. there were a number of meetings that he was holding. and some public events that he had on his schedule. and, you know, he was someone who really believed strongly he had to get out there.